Girl Scout cookie sale offers chance to treat our troops

By S. Derrickson Moore / dmoore@lcsun-news.com

Posted:
01/26/2013 06:49:44 PM MST

Click photo to enlarge

Dyne, 15, left, and Salma, 14, of Girl Scout Troop 583 in Las Cruces get the attention of passing motorists along Lohman Avenue on Saturday in hopes of selling their famous Girl Scout cookies while stationed at Walgreens. This is important because we like to raise money for trips and service projects. One of our favorite projects is buying food for the Child Crisis Center, Salma said.

It's Girl Scout Cookie time in the Mesilla Valley. Starting this weekend, and continuing through March 3, you'll have a chance to stock up on your favorites, and do a good deed and donate a taste of home to our military servicemen and women.

In addition to providing mid-winter sweet treats for us, the annual tradition has a lot of benefits for the participating girls, said Mandy Leatherwood, who leads Girl Scout Troop 583, sponsored by Weed & Seed, with fellow leaders Adriana Padilla and Dolores Vega.

"This teaches them to be responsible, how to be courteous and assist customers, and helps the shy ones get out of their shell," Padilla said.

"They learn that it's nice to be part of a bigger organization, something bigger than themselves, and about team building and setting goals. It's really interesting and exciting for them to interact with a lot of people during the sales" said Leatherwood.

Verifying that were Girl Scouts of Troop 583 at a booth outside Walgreens at 2300 E. Lohman Ave., one of many regional Walgreens and Walmart stores that will be hosting cookie booth sales.

"I like raising money for the troop so we can do service programs, like donate food to the Child Crisis Center," said Salma, 14.

Karen, 12, a Thin Mints fan, said she enjoys greeting customers. Most who don't buy cookies, she reports, "say that it's because they're on a diet. But we are always polite.

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If they say, "no,' we always say "thank you.'"

If you're counting calories, you can still share the fun and give Girl Scout Cookies to military troops at home and overseas through the Gift of Caring program. When you order your cookies from a Girl Scout or buy at a booth, just specify how many boxes you'd like to donate. The girl will collect the money, and Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest will ensure the cookies are sent to women and men serving our country.

You'll also be helping the Scouts "learn life skills and realize their goals, all while having fun. Customers get a great product and the opportunity to support girls in their community. The proceeds support troop/group treasuries, help girls fund their Girl Scout experience and provide important revenue that is used by the council to support quality programs for nearly 12,500 girls across West Texas and Southern New Mexico," according to the Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest - Southern New Mexico & West Texas council's website, www.gsdsw.org.

It's also an important learning program, providing "an important ingredient for leadership by helping girls develop five key skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics," according to the organization.

S. Derrickson Moore can be reached at 575-541-5450. Follow her on Twitter @DerricksonMoore.

Looking for Girl Scout cookies?

— Available today through March 3

— Order from a Girl Scout you know

— Cookie Hotline: 1-800-895-7390 ext. 299

— Buy at a booth sale. Locations include regional Walgreens Phamacies and Walmarts

Plus: Give Girl Scout cookies to military troops at home and overseas through Gift of Caring program. When you order your cookies from a Girl Scout or buy at a booth, specify how many boxes you'd like to donate. The girl will collect the money, and Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest will ensure the cookies are sent to women and men serving our country.

Varieties

Source: www.girlscouts.org. Some have two different names and not all are offered in some regions.

— Thin Mints

Thin chocolate wafers dipped in a rich, chocolaty coating with a burst of pure peppermint.